Apparently, in Alabama having a front yard grave is not that uncommon and Mr. Davis doesn’t see why the state would consider it a problem:

“Good Lord, they’ve raised pigs in their yard, there’s horses out the road here … they’ve got other grave sites here all over the place. And there shouldn’t have been a problem.”

But city officials claimed the front yard grave was a problem because the home happens to be on a main street. A city attorney claims James Davis “said it was easier to ask for forgiveness than permission, and that’s what he did.” And after four years of fighting the Davis family in court the city has won, citing the front yard grave as an “illegal cemetery.” The case even went to the Alabama Supreme Court where the county judge’s decision was upheld.

So James Davis, his five children and some grandchildren stood by as contractors uplifted the concrete vault and casket containing Mrs. Davis. At one point one of the daughters burst into tears. Police were on hand just in case there was trouble but Mr. Davis had decided to give up the battle:

“I’m adjusting to what’s going on. I’ve come to the realization that in the end Mama winds up ashes anyway ’cause we all go back to dust.”

The Davis family plans on storing her remains in an urn they will keep inside the home.